Apparatus for cleaning sand filter-beds



1N0. 752,196. I x I PATENTE'D FEB. 16, 1904.

l H. W.VBLAI$DELL. APPARATUS FOR. GLEANING SAND FILTER BEDS.

APPLIOATIDH FILED MAR. 26. 1903.

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H. W. BLAISDELL. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SAND FILTER BEDS.

APPLIGATIOK FILED MAR. 26. 1903.

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I! HIOI imfi 4 a .y i i No. 752,196. PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904 H. W. BLAISDBLL.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SAND FILTER BEDS.

APPLICATION: FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

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N0. 752,196. PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904;

I H.'W. BLAISDBLL.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SAND FILTER BEDS.

1 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903..

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PATENTBD FEB. 16, 1904.

H.-W. BLAISDELL. APP RATUS FOR CLEANING SAND FILTERBEDS.

APPLIDATI'OK FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

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PATENTBD FEB. 16,v 1904.

H. W. BLAISDELL. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SAND FILTER BEDS.

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PATENT APPARATUS FOR CLEAN ING SAND FILTER-BEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of. Letters Patent No. 752,196, dated February 16, 1904.

Applieati e153 March 26,1903. Serial No. 149,694. (No model.)

ratus for cleansing the sand'composing the bed of filters used in purifying thesupply of water to cities and towns. various kinds, but are usually laid out in a series of beds made of sand and inclosed by walls running longitudinally and transversely thereof. The water is introduced into the basin formedby the said walls and filters and;

passes through the sand forming the filterbed, thus leaving upon the surface of the sand the impurities previously contained in the Water-supply. These impurities in time form a film or crust upon the upper surface of the sand, and the sand near the surface becomes covered with impurities, which interferes with the efficiency of the filter-bed, 'and'it becomes necessary to remove thisfilrn or crust and to cleanse the sand upon the surface of the bed.

As these filter-beds are of large area, to do this work of cleansing without the aid of machinery or mechanical apparatus of anykind involves an enormous amount of labor and exj pense; and it is the objectof this invention to. provide an apparatus which will thoroughly remove the film or matter from the bed and also cleanse the sand from the impurities hereinbefore set forth.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a strong, simple, and durable machine for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and to provide a machine which shall be adapted to filter-bed and to remove the impurities therefrom without removing the sand.

The apparatus hereinafter described is an: im )rovement upon an a aratus for cleanln I sand filter-beds for which Ihave obtained Letters Patent of the United States No. 729,718, dated June 2, 1903'.

The invention consists, in an apparatus for cleaning sand filter 'beds, of a carriage ar- These filters are of 'bed shown in section.

I ranged to travel over the surface of said filterbeds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, and a mixing-chamber fast to said carrier-frame.

The invention again consists, in an apparatus for cleaning sand filter-beds, of a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, and an auxiliary frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame The invention further consists in mechanism for raising-and lowering said carrier-frame, together with the insti'umentaiities hereinbefore set forth.

The invention again consists in the instrumentalities hereinbefore set forth in combination with a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame.

The invention still further consists in certain improved details of construction hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims; v

The invention finally consists in a carriage arrangedto travel over the surface of a filterbed, with a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, each of said carrier-frames having an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically thereon, a series of mixing-chambers supported upon said auxiliary carrier-frames, each of said mixin -chambers having a rotary rake therein, said carriage having supported thereon a pressure-pump, asuction-purnp, a motor to raise and lower the diiferent carrier-frames,

ing sand filter-beds, partly broken away to save space in the drawings, the. same being shown in connection wit-h a portion of a filter- Figs. 2 and 3 when combined by placing the lines A A upon each figure, one upon the other, form a front elevation of my improved apparatus for cleaning sand filter-beds as viewed from the right of Fig. 1, the same being shown in connection with and in proper relation to a sand motors to operate said suction and pressure filter-bed, said sand filter-bed being shown in section, said figures broken away to save space in the drawings. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, taken on line H H of Fig. 5, of one of the auxiliary carrierframes, together with the carrier-frame upon which said auxiliary carrier-frame is arranged to slide vertically and a portion of the mechanism carried by said auxiliary carrier-frame. Fig. 5 is an underneath plan of the skid which is pivotally supported upon said auxiliary carrier-frame. Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the washing-chambers with the end plates removed therefrom and the side plates removed therefrom and shown adjacent thereto. Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the washing-chambers as Viewed from the right of Fig. 6 with the side plate removed. Fig. 8 is a top plan of one of the washing-chambers. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the washing-chamber, taken on line B B of Fig. 8 looking toward the right in said figure with the rotary rake shown in connection therewith and the side plates and deflectors removed. Fig. 9 is a horizontal detail section taken on line C C of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a plan View of a top joint cover-plate. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the plate shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an end view of the same. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of one of the end cover-plates. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 15 is a side and end elevation of one of the stationary deflectors. .Fig. 16 is a detail view of one of the tubular driving-shafts for the rotary rake, partly broken away and in section. Fig. 17 is a central vertical section taken on line F F of Fig. 4. Fig. 18 is a detail section taken on line D D of Fig. 4. Fig. 19 is a detail section taken on line E E of Fig. 4, illustrating in detail one of the pivotal blocks through which the carrier-frame-elevating screws extend. Fig. 20 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of the carrierframe similar to Fig. 4, with the exception that the rotary rake is illustrated in connection therewith and the auxiliary carrier-frame instead of being arranged to slide vertically upon the carrier-frame is made a part thereof rigidly fastened thereto.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 20 is a carriage formed of steel beams, trusses, ties, and stay-rods and provided with wheels 21, arranged to run upon tracks 22, said tracks being located upon opposite banks 23 and 24 of a filter-bed 25. The carriage 20'is propelled along the tracks 22 by an electric motor 26, operatively connect' ed by a belt 27 to a pulley 28. The pulley 28 is fast to a shaft 29, journaled in bearings upon the carriage 20. Two spur-gears 30 and 31 rotate freely upon the shaft 29 and are locked to said shaft by clutches 32 and 33, respectively, 'said clutches being splined to the shaft 29. The clutch 32 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 29 by means of a lever 34, pivoted at 35 to a bracket 36, fast to the carriage 20. The clutch 33 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 29 and into and out of connection with the gear 31 by a lever 37, pivoted at 38 to the bracket 36 and actuated by i a link 39 pivotally connected to the lever 34.

The gear 30 meshes into a gear 40 and the gear 31 meshes into a gear 41, said gears 40 and 41 being fast to a shaft 42, arranged to rotate in bearings upon the carriage 20. The relative diameters of the gears 30 and 40 31 and 41 are so proportioned that when the clutch 32 is thrown into engagement with the gear 30 the shaft 42 will be rotated at a speed comparatively much slower than that at which it is rotated when the clutch 33 is thrown into engagement with the gear 31 and the shaft 42 is rotated by the gears 31 and 41.

At the opposite ends of the shaft 42 are fastened bevel-gears 43 43, which mesh into bevel-gears 44 44, fast to shafts 45 45, said shafts having fastened thereto worms 46 46, which engage worm-gears 47 47, fast to shafts 48 48. The shafts 48 are journaled to rotate in journal-boxes 49 49, fast to the carriage 20, and have fastened to them the wheels 21 21, upon which the carriage 20 is supported. It will thus be seen that the carriage'20 is propelled either at a slow or fast speed by means of the motor 26 through the belt 27, pulley 28, shaft 29, gears'30 and 40, (or 31 and 41, as the case may be,)shaft 42, bevel-gears 43 43 44 44, and worm-gearing 46 47.

Upon the carriage 20 is supported a series of mechanisms for washing the surface of the sand of the filter-bed 25, each of said mechanisms consisting in general of a carrier-frame 50, arranged to slide vertically upon the carriage 20, an auxiliary carrier frame 51, arranged to slide vertically upon the carrierframe 50, a mixing-chamber -52, supported upon said auxiliary carrier-frame, a rotary rake 53, contained within said mixing-chamber, and mechanisms to rotate said rake and to raise and lower said carrier-frames.

In each of the series of mechanisms referred to the carrier-frame 50 is arranged to slide vertically with relation to the carriage 20 and is guided by friction-rolls 54 54, journaled upon said carriage 20. The carrier-frame 50 is raised and lowered by means of screws 55, journaled to rotate in bearings 56 in the car riage 20. The lower end of each of said screws has screw-threaded engagement with a block 57, pivoted at 58 to the carrierframe 50. At the upper end of each of the screws 55 is fastened a bevel-gear 59, which meshes into a bevel-gear 60, fast to a horizontal shaft 61, journaled to rotate in bearings 62, provided upon the carriage 20. Each of the shafts 61 has a bevel-gear 63 fast thereto and meshing into another bevel-gear 64, mounted to rotate loosely upon the shaft 65, which extends transversely of the carrierwill be left resting with the shoes 7 9 bearing frames and is journaled to rotate in bearings 66 upon the carriage 20. Each of the bevelgears 64 is locked to the shaft 65 by a clutch 67, which is moved lengthwise of saidshaft 65 by a lever 68, pivoted at 69't0 the carriage 20. The shaft 65 is rotated by a motor 70, supported upon a platform 71, fast to the carriage 20. The motor 70 is provided with a pulley 72, fast to the driving-shaft of said motor, said pulley driving a belt 73, which in turn imparts rotation to a pulley 74:, fast to the shaft 65.-

It will thus be seen that any one or all of the carrier-frames 50 may be raised and lowered by the motor 70 through the pulley 7 2, belt 73, pulley 74, rotary shaft 65, clutches 67, bevel-gears 6e, 68, 60, and 59. The screws 55 raise and lower the carrier-frames 5O positively, andwhen said screws are not rotating it is evident that the said carrier-frames will be locked in position as regards vertical motion with relation to the carriage and to the surface of the filter-bed 25. The surface of the filter-bed is, however, liable to variations in level and to more or less undulations in the surface thereof, and to compensate for this varying nature of the surface of the filter-bed the auxiliary carrier-frame 51 is provided, said auxiliary carrier-frame being arranged to slide vertically upon the carrier-frame and guided to slide upon said carrier-frame by friction-rolls 7 5, which bear against the vertical side pieces of said carrierframe 50.

The auxiliary carrier-frame 51 is raised by the carrier-frame 50, as hereinbefore set forth, by means of the cross-bar 7 6 upon the carrierframe 50, which as said carrier-frame moves upwardly engages the angle-irons 7'7 77, fast to and projecting laterally from the side pieces 7 8 of the auxiliary carrier-frame 51. It is evidentthat when said cross-bar 76 engages said angle-irons 77 a further upward movement of the carrier-frame will result in moving the auxiliary carrier-frame upwardly therewith. On the other hand, when the carrier-frame 50 is descending the auxiliary carrier-frame will descend with it until the shoes 7 9 upon the skid 80 rest upon the surface of the filterbed, when upon a further descent of the carrier-frame 50 said auxiliary carrier-frame upon the surface of the filter-bed and the cross-bar 7 6 will move downwardly away from the projecting angle-irons '77 7 7 The skid80 is formed of two side an gle-irons 81 81, Figs. l and 5, having their ends joined together by angle-irons 82 82-. To the angle irons 82 82 are fastened the shoes 79 7 9. The

angle-irons 81 81 are journaled to rock upon blocks 83 83, fast to a tilting frame 84. The tilting frame 84 is pivoted to rock upon pins 85 85, fast to a girder 86, said girder constituting a portion of the auxiliary carrier-frame 51 and having its ends rigidly fastened to theside pieces 78 78 of said auxiliary carrierframe. The tilting frame 84 is connected by adjustable links 87, to jaws 88, fast to angleirons 89 89. The angle-irons 89 89 are fast to the lower ends of the side pieces 7 8 of the auxiliary carrier-frame 51 and are connected together by angle-irons 90 91. The girder 86,

end angle-irons 89 89, and side angle-irons 90 91 are rigidly fastened together and constitute a frame for the mixing-chamber 52. The top 92 of the mixing-chamber 52 consists of a plate and is fastened to the angle-irons 89 89 and 90 91. Each end of the mixing-chamber is also provided with a plate 93,1'igidly fastened to the angle-irons 89 89. When a single mixing-chamber is used, the sides of the mixingchamber are inclosed by plates 94 95,- the plate 9 L being rigidly fastened to the angleiron 91 and the side plate 95 being fastened to a plate 96, Figs. 10 and 11, said plate96 being pivoted at 97 to the end plates 98 98, Figs. 8, 13, and '14. The pivoted side plate 95 is kept normally in a vertical position by springs 99 99, the central portion of said springs being fastened to the pivoted plate 96 and the free ends bearing against the angle-irons 90, Fig. 8.

It will thus be seen that the mixing-chamber 52 consists of a framework provided with a top and ends and with sides formed of vertical plates, one of which is rigidly fast to the framework of the mixing-chamber and the other pivotally connected thereto. The side plates 9% and 95 are only used when a single mixing-chamber is employed to close both sides of said chamber. hen, as is generally the case, a series of mixing-chambers are employed, as shown in the drawings, one side plate 94: is used at one extremity of the line of mixing-chambers and one side plate 95 at the other extremity. The mixing-chambers are thus open to one another throughout their entire length and form practically one long flexible mixing chamber; but in order to allow free motion for the various mixingchambers a small space is left between them,

and it is necessary to close this space by some kind of packing device to prevent the escape of dirty water or the too free ingress of the washing-water. For this purpose the top joint cover-plate 96 is employed, lying upon the top of the mixing-chamber and pivoted tothe end joint cover-plates-98 at 97 97. The outer edges of the plates 96 and 98 are pressed against the side of the adjoining mixing-chamber by means of the springs 99, and thus form a packing for the joint without impeding the free vertical movements of the mixing-chambers. To afford ample rubbing surface for the plates 96 and 98, one side of each mixingchamber is provided with a surface plate 150, as shown in Fig. 7. It will further be seen that the skid 80 is arranged to tip upon pivots 85 and 83, located in two vertical planes at right angles to each other, so that said skid &

v undulations in the surface of the filter-bed.

At each end of the skid 80, directly aflixed to the end angle-irons 82, are springs 100, the

free ends of said springs being connected together by packing-strips 101, said packingstrips being held by the free ends of the springs against the inner surface of the end plates 93 upon the mixing-chamber 52. The packing-strips 101 are connected by an apron 102 to the angle-irons 82 82, thus making a flexible wall extending from the angle-irons 82 to the interior of the end plates 93 of the mixing-chamber.

Upon the upper side of the angle-iron 91 are afiixed deflector-plates 103, said deflectorplates extending upwardly from the angleiron 91 and having a beveled surface 104 inclined inwardly toward the longitudinal median line of the mixing-chamber. Deflectors 105 are provided upon the plate 96, which also extend upwardly and inwardly, the object of these deflector-plates being to guide the mixing-chambers as they are lowered into position upon the surface of the filter-bed and to prevent one of said mixing-chambers from descending upon the top of the mixingchamber adjacent thereto. It is evident that when the skid 80 tips upon the pivots 83 the springs 100 at each end of said skid will yield sufficiently to allow said skid to tip upon said pivots, so that the shoes 79 may assume different heights with relation to each other, according to the variations in the surface of the sand of said filter-bed lengthwise thereof, and also it is evident that the skid 80 may tip upon the pivotal pins 85 85 to accommodate variations in the surface transversely of the filterbec. I

The girder 86 is provided with a chamber 106, Figs. 4, 8, and 9. Said chamber 106 opens at the bottom thereof through ports 107 into the interior of the mixing-chamber 52 and at the top thereof is provided with a pipe 108, which extends upwardly from the girder 86 and is provided with a nipple 109 at the upper end thereof, to which is attached a flexible suction-hose 110. The hose 110 is connected to a suction-main 111, which is supported upon the carriage 20 and extends throughout the entire length of said carriage,

being connected at different points along its length to the different lengths of suction-hose attached to the different mixing-chambers in the series of cleaning mechanisms. The suction-main 111 is connected at the right-hand end of the machine, Fig. 3, to a suctionpump 112, the discharge-pipe 113 from said suction-pump being arranged to empty into a wasteway 114, which is connected to a sewer 115. The suction-pump 112 is driven by an electric motor 147 supported upon the platform 71 of the carriage 20.

The auxiliary carrier-frames 51 are each provided with air-tanks 116, which are filled with air and act as floats when said auxiliary carrierframe is lowered until the mixing-chamber is beneath the water in the filter-bed. Ballast-tanks 117 117 are also provided filled with water, and thus by increasing or diminishing the amount of ballast in said tanks the pressure of the shoes 79 upon the surface of the filter-bed may be regulated.

The rotary rake 53 consists of a hub 118, with arms 119, formed of pipe, fast thereto, each of said arms being provided upon its outer end with an elbow 120, to which elbow is attached a downwardly-projecting finger 121, formed of pipe and closed at its lower end, but having orifices 122 near the lower end thereof. The hub 118 has screw-threaded engagement with the lower end of a vertical rotary pressure-pipe 123 and is locked to said pressure-pipe by a set-nut 124. The pressurepipe 123 extends upwardly from the hub 118 through a bearing 125, provided in the girder 86, and through a bushing 126, fast to crossbars 127, provided upon the auxiliary carrierframe 51. The upper end of the rotary pipe 123 is fastened by screw-threaded engagement to a solid shaft 128, Fig. 16, and the upper end of the solid shaft 128 is journaled in a standard 129, fast to .the upper cross-bar 130 of the auxiliary carrier-frame 51, as shown in detail in Fig. 17. To the upper end of the shaft 128 is fastened a worm-gear 131, which meshes into a worm 132 fast to the armatureshaft 133 of the electric motor 134.

The rotary pipe 123 is provided with orifices 135, extending therethrough and connecting the interior of said pipe with the interior of the stufling-box 126. The box 126 is provided with an inlet 136, having a hose-nipple 137 attached thereto, said hose-nipple being connected by a hose'138 to a pipe 139, Fig. 1, said pipe 139 leading to a pressure-main 140, which extends across the entire machine and is connected to a pressure-pump 141, located upon the platform 71 of the carriage 20. The pressure-pump 141 is provided with water from any desirable source, preferably from the water in the filter-bed 25, by means of an intake-pipe 142. The pressure-pump 141 is driven by an electric motor 143, located upon the platform 71 of the carriage 20. To regulate the flow of water from the pressure-pump 141 to the rotary rake 53, a valve 144 is provided in each of the pipes 139, said valve being provided with a stem 145 and a handle 146, extending upwardly therefrom above the platform 71 in convenient position for use.

The general operation of the apparatus h ereinbefore specifically described is asfollows:

The carriage 20, together with the different mechanisms supported thereon, is driven longitudinally of the filter-bed by the electric motor 26 through the belt 27, pulley 28, gearing 30 40, (or 31 41,) shaft 42, bevel-gears 43 44, and worm-gearing 46 47. Assuming the carriage, together with the mechanisms supported thereon, to belocated at one end of the filter-bed 25. the different mixing-chambers are lowered into place by imparting a rotary motion to the screws 55 55 through the bevelgears 59, 60, 63, and 64, driven by the shaft 65, pulley 1T4, belt 73, pulley 72, and motor 70. The carrier-frame will descend, together with the auxiliary carrier-frame 51, when the screws are rotated in the proper direction until the shoes 7 9 upon the skid rest upon the surface of the sand in the filter-bed 25. The auxiliary carrier-frame will then come to a state of rest, and the downward motion of the carrier-frame 50 will then be continued until the crossbars 7 6 become disengaged from the angle-iron projections '77 upon the auxiliary carrier-frame 51. the carrier-frames may be raised and lowered simultaneously; but it is preferable to lower them one by one. As the different mixingchambers are lowered into place upon the surface of the filter-bed, as illustrated in Figs.

1, 2, and 3, the deflector-plates 103 and 105 assist in'guiding the mixing-chamber and auxiliary carrier-frame in their descent and prevent the side plates 94 and 95 from landing upon the top of the mixing-chamber adjacent thereto. After the difierent mixing-chambers are in position upon the surface of the filterbed a rotary motion is imparted to the rake 53 by means of the electric motor 134 through the worm-gearing 132 131, vertical rotary shaft 128, and pipe 123. As the rotary rake 53 is rotated water is forced through the pressuremain 140 by the electric motor 143 and pressure-pump 141. Said water under pressure passes from the pressure-main 140 through the pipes 139 and valves 144 to each of the pressure-hose 138, thence downwardly through the pipe 123, arms 119, and fingers 121 and outwardly through the orifices 122 in the lower ends of said fingers. As the rake is thus rotated the water is therefore forced under pressure through the orifices 122 below the surface of the sand, the result being that the sand upon the surface of the filterebed is thoroughly stirred up and at the same time washed by the water which is forced out of the rotary rake, as hereinbeforedescribed. This water thoroughly washes the impurities from the sand, and said impurities, together with said water in the mixing-chamber, are drawn upwardly through the suction-pipe 108, suction-hosellO into the suction-main 111, and are drawn by the suction-pump 112, driven by the electric motor 147, and emptied, by means of the pipe 113, into the wasteway 114 and sewer 115. The amount of water driven through the rotary rake, as hereinbe-fore described, may be regulated by means of the valves 144.

As the apparatus hereinbefore described is driven longitudinally of the filter-bed 25, the auxiliary carrier frames can rise and fall slightly to accommodate the apparatus to the varying undulations and heights of the sur- All of face of the sand in said filter-bed, so that the ends of the fingers of the rakes may always be at substantially the same depth below the surface of the sand, and still further to automatically adjust itself to the uneven surface of the filter-beds the skids 80 tip longitudinally thereof upon the pivotal blocks 83, journaled said skid, further, is free to tip transversely of the auxiliary carrier-frame upon the pivotal pins 85, to which the tilting frame 84 is pivoted. The combined transverse and longitudinal tilting of the skid hereinbefore described allows the saitne to accommodate itself to (the undulations of the surface of the filterbe r t will be noted that the auxiliary carrierframe 51 is free to move up and down to a limited extent upon the carrier-frame 50, and said carrier-frameis thus moved upwardly and downwardly by the skid moving over the surface of the sand in the filter-beds as the carriage 20 is moved from one end of said filterbed to the other. Then the sand upon the surface of the filter-bed has been thoroughly washed, as hereinbefore described, by moving the carriage lengthwise thereof as many times as may be desired the different mixing-chambers, auxiliary carrier-frames, and carrier- 'frames, together with the mechanisms supported thereon, are raised by means of the screws 55 until said mixing-chambers are ata sufficient height to clear the end walls of the filter-bed, when the apparatus is driven by means of the mechanism hereinbefore described from one filter-bed to the filter-bed adjacent thereto, and the operation hereinbefore described is repeated for a second filterbed, and so on until all of the filter-beds have been thoroughly cleansed.

It will be seen and understood that the side (plates 148 148, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, at the extreme outside ends of the series of mixingchambers extend downwardly into the surface of the sand filter-bed, but that the surface plates 150 intermediate the extreme ends of the series of mixing-chambers do not extend into the sand composing the sur face of the filter-beds, so that the entire series of mixingchambers are connected internally for the purpose of evening up the draft of muddy water drawn from said chambers, andtherefore if one suction-pipe should become stopped up the others would remove the muddy water from the mixing-chamber directly connected with said stopped up pipe by drawing it through the open ends of the mixing-chambers.

In Fig. 20 a modified form of carrier-frame 149 is illustrated, in which the auxiliary carrier-frame 51 and carrier-frame50 are formed in one piece, or the auxiliary carrier-frame 51 as a sliding frame is omitted, and the rotary rake, the mechanism by which said rake is l rotated, and the mixing-chamber, together in the side angle-irons 81 of said skid, and

with the shoes 79 and skid 80, are supported directly upon the carrier-frame 149, said carrier-frame 149 being raised and lowered upon the carriage 20 by means of screws 55 55 in the same manner as hereinbefore described with relation to the carrier-frame 50.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire by Letters Patent to secure, is

1. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a tilting frame pivoted to said carrier-frame, and a skid pivoted to said tilting frame, the pivots of said tilting frame and of said skid located in vertical planes at right angles to each other.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, and a suction-pipe connected to said mixing-chamber.

3. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds,a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame,.a suctionpipe connected to said mixing-chamber, and mechanism to propel said carriage over the surface of said filter-beds.

I. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, a suctionpipe connected to said mixing-chamber, and a suction-pump located upon said carriage and operatively connected to said suction-pipe.

5. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, and a rotary'rake located in said mixing-chamber.

carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrierframe arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, a rotary rake located in said mixing chamber, and mechanism .to rotate said rake.

7 In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, a rotary rake located in said mixingchamber, and a motor supported upon said carrier-frame and operatively connected to rotate said rake.

8. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, and a rorte-nee tary rake surrounded by said mixing-chamber, said rake provided with hollow teeth arranged to project downwardly and provided with outlets to discharge water below the surface of said filter-beds.

9. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber fast to said carrier-frame, a suctionpipe and a pressure-pipe connected to said mixing-chamber, and a suction-pump and a pressure-pump located upon said carriage and operatively connected, respectively, to said suction and pressure pipes.

10. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide Vertically upon said carriage, a series of mixing-chambers fast to said carrier-frames, a suction-main supported upon said carriage, a series of suction-pipes connecting said mixing-chambers and suction-main, and a suction-pump connected to said suctionmain.

11. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, and an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame,

12. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged .to slide vertically :upon said carrier-frame, and mechanism to 3 raise and lower sa1d carrier-frame.

13. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds,

a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, acarr1er-frame arranged to slide vertically upon sa1d carriage, an auxlliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said earner-frame, and a mixing-cham- 1 ber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame. 6. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a

' a carrlage arranged to travel over the surface 14:. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds,

of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, and a vertical rotary screw journaled upon said carriage to raise and lower said carrier-frame.

15. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, and a skid fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame.

16. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, acarrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, and a skid pivotally supported upon said auxiliary carrier-frame.

17. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a tilting frame pivoted to said auxiliarycarrier-frame, and a skid pivoted to said tilting frame, the pivots of said tilting frame and of said skid located in vertical planes at right angles to each other. 18. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, and a suction-pipe connected to said mixing-chamber. 19. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, a suctionpipe connected to said mixing-chamber, and a suction-pump located upon said carriage and operatively connected to said suction-pipe.

20. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, and a rotary rake located in said mixing-chamber.

21. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrierframe arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, a rotary rake located in said mixing-chamber, and mechanism to rotate said rake. p 22. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, a rotary rake located in said mixing-chamber, and a motor supported upon said auxiliary carrierframe and operatively connected to rotate said rake.

23. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frarne arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, and a rotary rake surrounded by said mixing-chamber, said rake provided. with hollow teeth arranged to project downwardly and provided with outlets to discharge water below the surface of said filter-beds.

24. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, a skid pivotally supported upon said auxiliary carrierframe, springs fast to opposite ends of said skid, packing-strips fast to the free ends of said springs and bearing against the ends of said mixing-chamber, and aprons extending from said packing-strips to said skid.

25. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a mixingchamber supported upon said carrier-frame, a skid pivotally supported upon said carrierframe, springs fast to the opposite ends of said skid, packing-strips fast to the free ends of said springs and bearing against the ends of said mixing-chamber, and aprons extending from said packing-strips to said skid.

26. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrier-frame, a skid pivotally supported upon said auxiliary carrier-frarhe, springs fastto opposite ends of said skid, packing-strips fast tothe free ends of said springs and bearing against the ends of said mixing-chamber, aprons extending from said packing-strips to said skid, and shoes fast to opposite ends of said skid.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, a mixing-chamber, one side thereof pivotally supported thereon.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, a mixing-chamber, one side thereof pivotally supported thereon, and springs acting to hold said pivoted side normally in a vertical position. i

'29. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, a mixing-chamber and deflectors fast to the sides thereof, said deflectors consisting of brackets, each of said brackets provided with an upwardly and inwardly extending face for the purpose specified.

30. In an apparatus of the character described, a mixing-chamber comprising a girder, a framework fast to said girder, plates extending across the top and ends thereof, and plates extending across the sides thereof, one of said side plates pivotally supported upon said framework.

31. In an apparatus of the character described, a mixing chamber comprising a girder, a framework fast to said girder, plates extending across the top, sides, and ends of said chamber, said girder provided with a vertical central journal-bearing, and a suctionchamber, extending therethrough.

32. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, a mixing-chamber fast to said auxiliary carrierframe, a suctionpipe and a pressure-pipe connected to said mixing-chamber, and a suction-pump and a pressure-pump located upon said carriage and operatively connected, respectively, to said suction and pressure pipes.

33. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, and mechanism supported upon said carriage to raise and lower said carrier-frames.

34:. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, mechanism to raise and lower said carrier-frame, and means connecting said carrierframes, whereby when said carrier-frame is raised, said auxiliary carrier-frame will also be raised thereby.

35, In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, an auxiliary carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carrier-frame, and mechanism to raise and lower said carrier-frame, said auxiliary carrier-frame provided with projections arranged to engage said carrier-frame during the upward motion of said carrier-frame for the purpose specified.

36. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filterbeds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically with relation to said carriage, a mixing-chamber fast to said carrier-frame, a hollow rotary rake provided with outlets and surrounded by said mixing-chamber, a vertical rotary pipe fast to said rake journaled upon said carrier-frame, a stufling-box fast to said carrier-frame and encircling said rotary pipe, said rotary pipe provided with orifices connecting the interiors of said stufiing-box and pipe.

37. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrierframe arranged to slide vertically with relation to said carriage,

a mixing-chamber fast to said carriage, a hollow rotary rake provided with outlets and surrounded by said mixing-chamber, a vertical rotary pipe fast to said rake journaled upon said carrier-frame, a stilling-box provided with an inlet fast to said carrier-frame, a pressure-pump supported upon said carriage, and a flexible pipe connecting said pump to said stuffing-box inlet.

88. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically with relation to said carriage, a mixing-chamber fast to said carriage, a hollow rotary rake provided with outlets and surrounded by said mixing-chamber, a vertical rotary pipe fast to said rake journaled upon said carrier-frame, a stuffing-box provided with an inlet fast to said carrier-frame, a pressure-pump supported upon said carriage, a flexible pipe connecting said pump to said stuffing-box inlet, and an intake-pipe connecting said pressure-pump to a water-supply.

39. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically with relation to said earriage, a mixing-chamber fast to said carrierframe, a hollow rotary rake provided with outlets and surrounded by said mixing-chamber, a vertical rotary pipe fast to said rake journaled upon said carrier-frame, a stuffingbox fast to said carrier-frame and encircling said rotary pipe, said rotary pipe provided with orifices connecting the interiors of said stufiing-box and pipe, a motor supported upon said carrierframe, and worm-gearing connecting said motor to said rotary pipe.

40. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a series of auxiliary carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carrierframes, a series of mixing-chambers fast to said auxiliary carrier-frames, a suction-main supported upon said carriage, a series of suction-pipes connecting said mixing-chambers and suction-main, and a suction-pump connected to said suction-main.

41. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a series of auxiliary carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carrierframes, a series of mixing-chambers fast to said auxiliary carrier-frames, a hollow rotary rake provided with outlets located in each of said mixing-chambers, a series of vertical r0- tary pipes fast to said rakes, each of said pipes journaled upon its respective carrier-frame, a pressure-main supported upon said carriage, a series of flexible pressure-pipes connecting said rotary pipes and pressure-main, and a pressure pump connected to said pressuremain.

42. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds,

a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a series of auxiliary carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carrierframes, vertical rotary screws journaled upon said carriage to raise and lower said carrierframes, a rotary shaft journaled on said carriage extending transversely of said carrier-frames, gearing connecting said screws and rotary shaft, and a motor operatively connected to said rotary shaft. 1

43. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a series of mixing-chambers fast to said carrier-frames, a pressure-main supported upon said carriage, a series of pressure-pipes connecting said mixing-chambers and pressuremain, and a pressure-pump connected to said pressure-main.

44. In an apparatus for cleaning filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filter-beds, a series of carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a series of auxiliary carrier-frames arranged to slide vertically upon said carrierframes, a series of mixing-chambers fast to said auxiliary carrier-frames, apressure-main supported upon said carriage, a series of pressure-pipes connecting said mixing-chambers and pressure-main, and a pressure-pump connected to said pressure-main.

45. In an apparatus of the character described, two mixing-chambers having their interiors connected one to the other.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, two mixing-chambers having their interiors connected one to the other, and mechanism to independently raise and lower said mixing-chambers.

47. In an apparatus of the character described, two mixing-chambers having their in teriors connected one to the other, mechanism to independently raise and lower said mixingchambers, and means to make a substantially tight joint between said chambers.

48. In an apparatus of the character dey scribed, two mixing-chambers having their interiors connected one to the other, one side of one of said chambers pivoted thereto and constructed to bear against the adjacent side of the other of said chambers.

49. In an apparatus of the character described, two mixing-chambers having their interiors connected one to the other, one side of one of said chambers pivoted thereto, and springs constructed to hold said pivoted side in contact with the adjacent side of the other of said chambers.

50. In an apparatus for removing material from the surface of filter-beds, a carriage arranged to travel over the surface of said filterbeds, a carrier-frame arranged to slide vertically upon said carriage, a scraper supported upon said carrier-frame, mechanism to lower said carrier-frame until said scraper rests upon the surface of said filteer-bed, and means to subsequently disconnect said lowering mechanism from said carrier-frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. HIRAM W'. BLAISDELL.

VVitne-sses:

ALICE B. BLAISDELL, E. E. SMITH. 

